Once you're feeling better it's likely that you'll keep taking escitalopram for several more months to prevent the symptoms returning. The decision to stop your treatment or carry on will depend on what symptoms you have and how serious they are.
A common myth is that you need to take antidepressants forever. Many people use antidepressants for a few months and then slowly wean their way off the medication. Others take antidepressants for years before they discontinue the medication.
How long can you take Lexapro? If this is your first episode of depression, your doctor may prescribe Lexapro for a set period, for example, 6 months to a year. Some people with persistent depression may need to take it for many years. There are no known problems when Lexapro is taken long-term.
And luckily, as long as the benefits of the medication outweigh the potential side effects, there's no strong evidence that long-term use of SSRIs poses any major problems.
Are There Any Risks For Taking Escitalopram For Long Periods Of Time? To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of escitalopram. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed.
Many people with depression continue taking antidepressant drugs for months or even years after their symptoms have resolved. This so-called maintenance therapy aims to reduce the risk of relapse. The numbers of people taking maintenance therapy for depression is increasing.
Take your time. You may be tempted to stop taking antidepressants as soon as your symptoms ease, but depression can return if you quit too soon. Clinicians generally recommend staying on the medication for six to nine months before considering going off antidepressants.
It's usually recommended that a course of antidepressants continues for at least 6 months after you feel better, to prevent your condition recurring when you stop. Some people with recurrent illness are advised to carry on taking medicine indefinitely.
If you've only been taking the med for a few weeks, you may be able to reduce it in about a month. Someone coming off antidepressants after 10 years, or a higher dose, might have to gradually reduce their dose for several months.
It's recommended to keep taking your medication for at least 12 months if you're benefiting from it. This is meant to help prevent symptoms from getting worse again. After 12 months or so, you and your healthcare provider may decide to continue the medication or to gradually stop taking it.
Stopping Lexapro (escitalopram) can lead to various withdrawal symptoms, such as insomnia, nausea, irritability, and headaches. Stopping gradually can help prevent withdrawal effects. Lexapro takes time to build up in the body.
Ultimately, these withdrawal symptoms will improve with time, but they can be unpleasant for days and possibly even weeks. In time, the brain readjusts and people should experience a return to their normal state.
Several factors can influence how severe withdrawal symptoms are. These factors include how long you or your loved one has been taking Lexapro, how high the dosage is, and other factors related to your unique individual physiology. In short, the longer you take the drug, the harder it will be to come off of it.
People taking Paxil and Effexor often have more intense withdrawal symptoms. These drugs have short half-lives and leave the body faster than drugs with long half-lives. The faster an antidepressant leaves the body, the worse the withdrawal symptoms. This is because of the sudden imbalance of chemicals in the brain.
If You Do Have to Take Antidepressants Forever, You Will Be OK. Some recent studies suggest long-term antidepressant use may come with side effects previously unknown to scientists. “These risks include an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, especially for SSRI users,” Dr. Hong explained.
Lexapro withdrawal symptoms are most often described as flu-like symptoms, such as nausea, dizziness, fatigue, fever, headache, trouble sleeping, and mood swings. The safest way to safely stop taking Lexapro, or any other antidepressant, is to do so under the direct supervision of your doctor.
Lexapro has an average rating of 8.2 out of 10 from a total of 518 reviews for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. 78% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 9% reported a negative experience.
Yes, escitalopram (Lexapro) is one of the first-choice options for the treatment of depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) because of how well it works and how safe it is. If you're diagnosed with depression or GAD, your provider will decide if escitalopram (Lexapro) is right for you.
Although this is beneficial for someone who's depressed, for someone who does not have depression, taking antidepressant medication can cause serotonin to build up in the body, resulting in serotonin syndrome. When serotonin levels are too high, the person may experience symptoms like: Agitation or restlessness.
Perhaps the fundamental reason why antidepressants are so widely prescribed and used is that they fit with the 'medical model' of mental illness, which has become the standard view in western culture. This model sees depression as a medical condition which can be “fixed” in the same way as a physical injury or illness.
“Even though they say your meds are 'non-habit forming,' you can still have serious, debilitating withdrawals when you try to get off of them, and there's no telling how long they will last.” — Matthew A. 3. “I didn't know antidepressants could affect your libido.
Lexapro is an antidepressant prescription drug used to treat depression and anxiety. You may experience side effects such as fatigue, diarrhea, or headaches within the first week or two of taking Lexapro. Talk to your doctor to see if Lexapro is right for you.
Then, when you're taking the lowest possible daily dosage, they may recommend taking a dose every other day instead of every day. (For details about dosage, see the “Lexapro dosage” section above.) If you have withdrawal symptoms when stopping Lexapro, talk with your doctor.